Major tribe in Nigeria

The 3 major ethnic groups in Nigeria

Nigeria is a country located in western Africa  So far Nigeria is a country where they are over 200 ethnic groups and English is the universal language used in Nigeria.

These three ethnic groups are the most influential groups in the country HAUSA, IGBO and YOURBA.

HAUSA/ Fulani

The Hausa/Fulani people come from the northern part of the country and can found in cities like Kano, Jos, Lafia, Kastina, and Kaduna. They make up 29% of the population in Nigeria.

The Hausa/Fulani people like food made out of grains such as Maize, Millet and rice which are grounded into flour and the food know among them is called ‘TUWO’ which is made from the grounded flour. Another food is called the beans cake but in Hausa language is known as ‘kosai’ along side with koko in watery form which is made from either maize or millet.

The people from this region when it comes to attire they have restricted dress manner due to religious beliefs. The women wear cloths not reviling parts of their bodies. They are dressed in wrapper and a top to match made of different colorful materials, hair tie and a shawl used for covering. For the men the Jalabia and Babban Riga is well known attire among them.

The people from the region in Nigeria are Muslims.

IGBO

They IGBO’S come from the southern part of Nigeria and are well known for trading and farming. They are business minded people and They make up 18% of population in Nigeria.

People from this region have what is call Iwa Ji festival (new Yam festival) which is performed at the end of the rainy season (August) .This festive celebration brings all communities together in celebration of the new yam where they are folk dances, Masquerades and parades and many other entertaining performances.

People from this region have a popular alcohol beverage called Palm Wine. They Igbo peoples attire are of  Igbo traditional  type, for men, is generally made up of the Isiagu top which resembles the Dashiki  worn by other African groups. Isiagu (or Ishi agu) is usually patterned with lions heads embroidered over the clothing and can be a plain color. It is worn with trousers and can be worn with either a traditional title holder’s hat or with the traditional Igbo striped men’s hat known as Okpu Agwu. For women, a puffed sleeve Blouse along with two wrappers and a head tie are worn.  People from this part of Nigeria are mostly Christian just few of the people still practices their traditional beliefs.

 YORUBA

THE Yoruba people come from the western part and the make up 21% of the country’s population. People from this region are very traditional.

The Yoruba people are well known for giving birth to twins and it is know that the Yoruba present the highest dizygotic  twinning rate in the world (4.4% of all maternities) having the highest rate of twinning in the world, at 45-50 twin sets (or 90-100 twins) per 1,000 live births.

Twins are very important to Yoruba people and they usually tend to give special names. The first of the twins to be born is traditionally named Taiyewo or Tayewo, which means 'the first to taste the world and the second will be named Kehindegbegbon or Omokehindegbegbon  and can be shortened  to  Kehinde or Kehin which means ‘ The child that came last gets the right of the eldest’.

Yam is a common food among the Yoruba people which is used in making Iyan (Pounded yam). We also have Amala which is made by peeling the back of the yam and letting it dry which is later processed into flour.

Clothing materials traditionally come from processed cotton by traditional weavers. The basic being the Aṣo-Oke , which comes in very many different colors and patterns.

Yoruba wares are gender sensitive. Men wear Kẹmbẹ, Dandogo, Danṣiki, Agbada, Buba, Ṣokoto and matching caps such as (Eleti-Aja), dog-shaped cap and fila-ẹtu .

Women wear Iro (wrapper) and Buba (the top) with a matching head-gear (gele). For important outings, a Yoruba woman will add a Shawl (Ipele/Iborun) on the shoulder and can add different forms of accessories.

People from this region are both Muslim and Christians and some of them till today practices their traditional beliefs. 

The currency used in Nigeria is called NAIRA .